Town of Franklin issues a "CALL FOR ARTISTS" + Includes Stipend Opportunities

Let's get your artwork published!

Call for Artists | Fairy Trails & Franklin Tales The Town of Franklin's Department of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy invites artists and creators of all ages to craft an environmentally friendly fairy house for display in the Franklin Sculpture Park! As part of our Fairy Trails & Tales of Franklin exhibition, we're looking for imaginative and sustainable designs that harmonize with the park's natural beauty. Click here for more details. Call for Artists| Artsy Boxes ARTIST STIPEND AVAILABLE Call for Artists – 2025 Artsy Box Project | Join us in adding color, creativity, and culture to Franklin's streets!  The Franklin Cultural District Committee is excited to announce the 2025 Artsy Box Project, inviting artists to transform a utility box in downtown Franklin into a vibrant public art piece! This initiative celebrates Franklin's creativity and history by showcasing art inspired by nature and community. We welcome artists of all backgrounds—established and emerging—to submit their most uplifting and colorful designs. Click here for more details.   Call for Artists| Micro Galleries ARTIST STIPEND AVAILABLE Franklin's first public art micro gallery is a unique, small-scale exhibition space housed inside a repurposed neighborhood library box. This innovative initiative transforms a traditional book-sharing box into a miniature art gallery, bringing accessible, rotating exhibitions to the heart of our community. Located in an accessible public space, the micro gallery will feature small, original artworks created by local and regional artists. Much like a traditional gallery but on a smaller scale, this space will showcase diverse artistic voices while encouraging engagement, curiosity, and creativity among residents and visitors alike. Click here for more details. Call for Artists| The Art of Play: Franklin's Cornhole Project ARTIST STIPEND AVAILABLE The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is seeking artists to create/share vibrant, pieces of artwork for cornhole boards that will be used at town festivals and events for years to come! This is a unique opportunity to bring public art into an accessible, interactive setting, allowing the community to experience and enjoy local creativity in a whole new way. Upcoming events these boards will be featured: Strawberry Stroll, Farmers Markets, PorchFest! Click here for more details. Call for Artists & Writers | Featured in Printed + Digital District Guides Who We're Looking For: Visual artists: illustrators, painters, photographers, printmakers, digital artists, muralists. Writers: poets, lyricists, flash fiction authors, and storytellers Open to creatives who live, work, or create in Franklin or nearby communities. Artwork or short written pieces (poems, lyrics, or very short stories) that reflect the essence of Franklin—its community, creativity, culture, seasons, and shared spaces. Themes can include nature, community connection, public gathering, small-town life, cultural expression, or the passage of seasons. Selected Creatives Will Receive: Featured placement in the seasonal printed guides Artist/writer credit and short feature with your name and contact/social info + artist statements Promotion via Franklin Culture's digital platforms Timeline: Submission Deadline: Wednesday, May 21st Summer Guide Release: Mid June 2025 Fall/Winter Guide Release: October 2025 How to Submit: Email 3–5 art samples (JPEG or PDF) or 1–2 written pieces (under 250 words each), along with a short bio and why you'd like to participate, the Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Cory Shea, Cshea@franklinma.gov with the subject line: FCD Creative Submission 2025 by Wednesday May 21st Town of Franklin Franklin Culture District | 355 East Central Street | Franklin, MA 02038 US

Franklin Public Schools Receive $5,000 Grant to Continue Visiting Author Program

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Horace Mann Middle School Reading Specialist Erin O'Leary are proud to share that Franklin Public Schools have been awarded a $5,000 grant from the Franklin Cultural Council to continue the visiting author program.

"I want to thank the Franklin Cultural Council for such a generous donation that will allow us to continue the visiting author program," O'Leary said. "With their help, we can continue promoting engaging and hands-on reading curriculum that unites the three middle schools in a unique and exciting way."

Author Steve Sheinkin presents to the Remington Middle School student body. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

The three Franklin middle schools have a long-standing tradition of welcoming highly engaging young adult authors. The program was originally a schoolwide initiative at Horace Mann Middle School but spread to all three middle schools in 2019.

The visiting author program is built around contemporary authors whose books are popular, engaging, and speak to the middle school experience. Reading specialists collaborate with publishers, school and district administrators, the Franklin Public Library, and Plainville bookstore An Unlikely Story to select an author whose work aligns with Franklin's core values and curriculum. Previous authors include Aisha Saeed, Jordan Sonnenblick and Steve Sheinkin.

In recent years, the middle school visiting author experience has been a three-day residency. The author spends a full day at each middle school presenting to the student body, signing books, answering questions, and hosting small group writing and reading sessions. There is also an evening event for community members, allowing families to meet the author and share a common experience with their students.

The visiting author's work is woven into the curriculum leading up to the visit. Their books are used for summer reading, purchased for classroom libraries, and chosen for read-alouds. Teachers utilize the author's books to teach lessons regarding figurative language, dialogue, paragraph structure, and other skills.

Given the scope of this endeavor, the schools seek multiple funding sources to sustain the program. O'Leary has been awarded a grant to finance part of the experience for the last several years. And thanks to the Franklin Cultural Council's grant, the visiting author program will continue in the 2025-26 school year.

"The visiting author program has become an integral part of the middle school curriculum," Superintendent Giguere said. "It promotes literacy development and connections within our school community and across the district and town. We are very grateful to the Franklin Cultural Council and thank them for their donation. Thanks to them, we can continue our tradition of encouraging a love of reading through dynamic programs such as this one."

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, April 7, 2025 ???

Monday, April 7

** Franklin Art Association Art Show and Sale Exhibit (Norfolk Public Library)

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, April 7, 2025 ???

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**  Town Meetings today   **

Franklin Cultural Council Meeting

April 7, 2025, 7:00 PM = https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5131/Franklin-Cultural-Council-April-Meeting?bidId= 

Planning Board Meeting

April 7, 2025, 7:00 PM = https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/365?fileID=4379 

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What's happening today in Franklin? 

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

YOU'RE Invited!! Cultural Volunteer & FY25 Grant Recipient Reception - March 13 at 7 PM

A Night of Gratitude – Honoring Franklin's Cultural Volunteers & Grant Recipients

Thursday, March 13  7 - 8:30 PM | Dean College | Guidrey Center, Paula Rooney Student Center RSVP here! Dear Franklin Community, We invite you to an evening of celebration, appreciation, and connection—where we come together to honor the people who make Franklin's cultural heartbeat so strong. This special night is dedicated to you—our incredible volunteers, artists, and supporters—who pour passion, time, and creativity into making Franklin a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. We will recognize our FY2025 grant recipients, whose work continues to inspire and enrich our community. And we are honored to celebrate a group of outstanding cultural volunteers whose dedication has made a lasting impact on Franklin's arts and culture: Amy Adams – Franklin Cultural District Sarah Cronin – Franklin Cultural Council Lauren Kloos & Roger Trahan – Franklin Farmers' Market Brenna Johnson – Franklin High School Ceramics Instructor & Empty Bowls Coordinator with the Franklin Food Pantry This event is free and open to all, and we would love to celebrate with as many of you as possible. We can't wait to share this evening of gratitude, laughter, and community with you. Thank you for being part of Franklin's creative story! Town of Franklin Franklin Culture District | 355 East Central Street | Franklin, MA 02038 US

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, March 5, 2025 ???

Wednesday, March 5

• "Look Up" Gallery (during Franklin Public Library open hours )

12:00pm Community Conversations (THE BLACK BOX)

For additional details on the Library & Senior Center calendar check the interactive version on the Town page -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**   Town Meetings today   **

Community Conversation at THE BLACK BOX

March 5, 2025, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

no agenda at this time

Town Council Meeting

March 5, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052025-1608 

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Franklin Porchfest returns Saturday, June 7 from noon t 6 PM

We are excited to announce the return of Franklin PorchFest in 2025. PorchFest is an outdoor music event that will be held on Saturday, June 7th from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM with a rain date of Sunday, June 8th.

Musicians and bands of all genres will be performing on porches and patios throughout the district. This walkable event is also the perfect opportunity to check out our local shops and restaurants.

Franklin Porchfest returns Saturday, June

If you have a band or are a performer and would be interested in performing at Franklin PorchFest, click the tab up top “band” or “Porch” and register for the event. All the information you need to register is on our website Franklin PorchFest.

Franklin PorchFest is made possible with investment funds granted from the Mass Cultural Council through the Franklin Cultural District Committee and the Town of Franklin.

You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Franklin.PorchFest.Info

You're Invited! #ThinkFranklinFirst (2/26), Community Conversation (3/5) FY2025 Grant recipients (3/13)

Community Conversations + A Celebration!

Springing into Arts & Culture

Department of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Think Franklin First Gift Card Program Art Pharmacy in Franklin Franklin Cultural Volunteer & Grant Recipient Reception Call for Artists

FEBRUARY 26TH | 7 PM DEAN BANK By attending this event, you'll discover how your business can become a participating merchant, the benefits of joining the program, and how to maximize your exposure to local consumers. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow business owners and contribute to the growth of Franklin's local economy. Click here for more info + to RSVP

MARCH 5TH | 12-2 PM, Black Box Theater We're thrilled to welcome Michael Bobbitt (Mass Cultural Council) & Emily Devlin (Art Pharmacy) as we explore how Art Pharmacy—a nationally recognized program—will support substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment & recovery in our community.⁠ This is your chance to get involved and help bring this initiative to life!⁠ ⁠ 🔹 Learn how Art Pharmacy will impact Franklin⁠ 🔹 Discover partnership opportunities⁠ 🔹 Explore the role of arts in mental health & social connection⁠ Click here for more info + RSVP

MARCH 13TH | SAVE THE DATE Thursday, March 13th, 7-8:30pm | A night to honor our FY2025 grant recipients and our Franklin cultural volunteers Dean College | Guidrey Center in the Paula Rooney Student Center. Our reception is free and open to the public. Click here to RSVP

Read more on the Town of Franklin website under the Department of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy. Town of Franklin Franklin Culture District | 355 East Central Street | Franklin, MA 02038 US